Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 827 - 349: Withered Leaf Exotic Treasure (Part 2)

Since he was in an opportune position to earn favor from the Sea Ancestor, Ning Qi once more commanded his gathered forces to embark on a new campaign. Adhering to the established strategy, he successfully subdued the entirety of the southwestern War Realm. Yet, during the process, an unforeseen complication emerged. While they were occupied with seizing the final, minor territory, a rift suddenly tore open within the Western Boundary Wall. It appeared that this maneuver was a desperate attempt to rescue the Vast Realm cultivators they were currently besieging. Observing this, Ning Qi deliberately allowed a rival Domain Master, who was locked in combat with Zhu Yanchuan, to flee while subtly causing a compass to drop from Zhu Yanchuan's grasp, ensuring the enemy would claim it.

The Compass itself was an elaborate fabrication by Ning Qi, and he had cleverly inscribed the blueprint of its creation on the reverse side. Naturally, Ning Qi employed various concealment techniques to deceive everyone, save for that specific Domain Master who was convinced he had secured a rare, game-changing relic. Once the southwestern War Realm was firmly under his control, Ning Qi began his preparations to consolidate his troops. The manifestation of the Mountain and Sea Realm Will cautioned him to remain vigilant, warning that the Vast Realm Will and the Saint Ancestor had likely installed hidden countermeasures inside the Western Realm. Simultaneously, the spatial integrity of the Southern War Realm approached its breaking point, signaling that the first wave of Unity Realm combatants was nearly ready to descend into the War Realm.

As Ning Qi solidified his grip on the southern and southwestern sectors, the Sea Ancestor within the Mountain and Sea Realm regarded the ongoing conflict in the War Realm with a rare, faint smile. She realized that seizing the Profound Truth Realm from the Mountain Ancestor and compelling Ning Qi to submit had been an inspired decision. Indeed, Ning Qi had personally captured two domains for her and shielded her subordinate cultivators from total collapse. Had he remained loyal to the Mountain Ancestor, those individuals would have surely been under the enemy's banner. Essentially, Ning Qi's actions not only preserved her forces but also degraded the strength of the Mountain Ancestor. Now that the Mountain and Sea Realm Will had verified that Unity Realm cultivators could soon enter the Southern Domain, she foresaw a shift in the tide of honor, making the eventual invasion of the Vast Realm a distinct possibility.

On the Heaven-Reaching Peak, the Mountain Ancestor scrutinized the situation in the War Realm with an increasingly grim expression. His annoyance spiked as he observed the Northeastern War Realm falling completely into the hands of the Vast Realm Will. Against the tranquil azure shade of the southern and southwestern regions, this loss was particularly offensive. Sighing, he reflected on the paramount importance of pure talent. Seeking to guarantee future triumphs, the Mountain Ancestor initiated the deployment of his own Unity Realm cultivators into the War Realm. He intended to specifically dispatch Self-Cutting Unity cultivators to sectors that had yet to be claimed by the Mountain and Sea Realm Will, or where his own assets were struggling to hold momentum.

Meanwhile, in the Vast Realm, the Saint Ancestor, who had previously been content to work in the shadows, felt compelled to return to the vanguard. He summoned the Domain Master of the Vast Immortal Sect along with several Unity Realm figures. "We must prevent the enemy from claiming further ground. Zhili, disclose the findings you have gathered," the Saint Ancestor commanded. The entity known as Zhili, manifested from the Vast Realm Will, stood in respectful silence beside his master, responding like an attentive pupil, "As you command, Master." However, upon turning to face the Sect Leader of the Vast Immortal Sect and the assembled Unity experts, his posture shifted to one of profound authority and untouchable majesty. The Saint Ancestor always taught that a leader must exude the dignity of a Realm Venerable to maintain order. Having been taught every facet of his existence by the Saint Ancestor, Zhili shared a unique, singular bond with his creator. Even his name was a gift from the Saint Ancestor, intended to imbue him with an understanding of heaven and earth and a benevolent spirit toward those living in the Vast Realm.

Zhili directed his gaze toward the gathering and stated, "Currently, out of the nine main war domains, the Mountain and Sea Realm has already secured two, while we hold only one. The remaining minor domains suffer under heavy pressure. At this current pace, they will inevitably launch an offensive against our home realm." Those Unity Realm experts lacking the sensitivity to perceive the War Realm's true state were visibly shaken by this news. "We implore the Saint Ancestor and the Realm Venerable to issue commands to turn the tide!" Zhili nodded. Suddenly, he glanced toward the War Realm, his face registering a flicker of genuine shock. "What is wrong?" the Saint Ancestor queried. Without a word, Zhili beckoned toward the distant space, and an object drifted across the void, settling firmly into his palm. "Master, behold!" Zhili offered the item for inspection.

After examining the artifact, the Saint Ancestor immediately grasped its functionality, uncovering the modification guide scorched into the back. "Little wonder the cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Realm have suddenly became so aggressive," the Saint Ancestor remarked. "It appears this powerful artifact is the reason. They claim this device was crafted by Ning Qi himself and surrendered to the Mountain and Sea Realm Will, which then mass-produced them for all their forces. This explains why our positions have been steadily collapsing!" Gazing toward the warfront, the Saint Ancestor exhaled slowly, "It is infuriating that this, too, was Ning Qi's handiwork. We failed to secure him at the start, and now, with the full backing of the Mountain and Sea Realm Will, catching him has become a gargantuan task." He quickly issued an order: "Summon the best Artifact Cultivators. We must replicate this device and arm our troops at once." An Integration Realm expert acknowledged the order, taking the Compass and retreating to execute the mission. The council then proceeded to deeper strategy. "The Mountain and Sea Realm will soon commit Unity Realm reinforcements. Master, must we likewise respond?" the Saint Ancestor replied, "Naturally. But we must also guard the two domains they have stolen." When asked what he meant, the Saint Ancestor added, "Distribute the Realm-Breaking Pills. Should the enemy press the advantage, our Integration Extremity cultivators shall consume them and force a breakthrough right on the battlefield." Zhili voiced a concern, "But Master, the Heavenly Tribulation accompanying an Integration breakthrough is lethal. Is this not too high a risk?" The Saint Ancestor narrowed his eyes, "Desperate times call for desperate measures. A trial by tribulation is superior to certain death. Furthermore, if handled with precision, the lightning of the tribulation itself can be weaponized against our foes." The plan was set, and the remaining Integration cultivators began to sense the impending storm.

Within the borders of the Mountain and Sea Realm, Si Kongxuan of the Cyan Profound Immortal Sect burned with vengeance. Over in the Celestial Fire Realm, Domain Masters Fan City, Mu Qingtian, and Jin Guanghua had utilized the Life Reviving Pills provided by the Mountain Ancestor to reconstruct the shattered soul fragments of their heirs. Upon hearing their sons’ accounts of the conflict, they were gripped by a singular vitriol for Ning Qi. They swore a blood oath to annihilate him and his followers. News then reached all Unity Realm cultivators that they were finally permitted to enter the War Realm. The Mountain Ancestor hoped to leverage the Self-Cutting Unity cultivators alongside the utility of Ning Qi’s own Compass to seize a domain and salvage his dwindling pride. Among the volunteering Domain Masters, Si Kongxuan and the trio from Fan City were the most fervent in their desire to depart.

Ning Qi continued to wait in the southwestern sector for the signal from the Mountain and Sea Realm Will. He remained far from idle, utilizing the looted resources to bolster the combat capabilities of the Profound Truth Realm army. These extravagant expenditures triggered deep jealousy in Qi Keqing, Zhu Yanchuan, and their allies like Ren Boping, Lang Yingying, Jiang Yuyue, and Qing Chulan. Ning Qi remained indifferent to their petty envy. They were not strictly his subordinates; therefore, he had no obligation to invest in their growth. Furthermore, as the Unity Realm combatants prepared to enter the fray, his control over the Profound Truth Realm was tenuous at best, and he had no interest in enriching the henchmen of other Immortal sects. He had already settled his debts by saving their lives and sharing the spoils of war. In reality, Ning Qi’s personal gains were monumental compared to theirs. Having tracked forty-eight hidden nodes, he had integrated these segments into the True Martial Realm, pushing its Rule Origin beyond the two-hundred threshold. His true self grew stronger by the day, and his reincarnated form stood on the absolute precipice of a Unity breakthrough, waiting only for the stabilization of the War Realm’s space.